Martial: I want to stay at United ‘as long as possible’

Sarah Winterburn

Anthony Martial has dismissed talk of a Manchester United exit, saying he wants to stay at the club he loves “for as long as possible”.

Speculation has grown over the 21-year-old’s happiness this season, as he has struggled to recapture the form shown during his maiden Old Trafford campaign.

Martial had struggled to break into manager Jose Mourinho’s thoughts, but has started the previous three matches, producing some impressive flashes.

The attacker is hoping for a fourth straight start against St Etienne in the second leg of United’s Europa League last-32 tie, ahead of which he insisted his future was at Old Trafford.

“I love Manchester, I love the club and I love the fans,” Martial said through a French interpreter.

“(The fans) give me a lot of joy and I really enjoy having them backing me.

“I try to be as good as possible to make them happy, to satisfy them, so what I just want is to stay as long as possible at this club.”